Carrying the weight of the world so you don't have to.

May 01, 2009

Okay, quick look around: it's been 5 months since my last post. There's a layer of dust everywhere, the couch feels damp, and the carrots in the fridge could be used for macrame . . . Still, it's good to be back.

My last post (look up!) was in December. I'd been posting for almost five years, had just hit 1000 posts, and wasn't feeling it anymore. The zeitgeist has passed. Stacey wasn't posting anymore, neither was receptionista, the hamstress and worse than that . . . we weren't reading 'em when they did. Hell, I haven't checked in on Mimi Smartypants or Dooce since the first of the year. Somewhere in Utah, there's a five year old girl who's parents are now going to have a tough time funding the years of therapy it will take for their daughter to recover from having her every toddler poop documented.

Now we have FaceBook. I waded in up to my armpits, made lists like a character cut from a Nick Hornby novel, took quizes telling me that I have way too much in common with Kevin Perri, and have reconnected with a few old friends I regret letting drift away (Hey Hopper!). All in all, I've been having a great time with it. Right up until we did List Five Celebrities You've Met List.

As with most things, personal rudder Mrs. Recker made me realize that we were cheating ourselves. Lisa put up five and it was like reading an abridged version of the bible on a Bazooka Joe comic. I've sat on her deck and spent hours listening to the stories, way more than five, of celebrities she's met and seeing those great experiences reduced to a couple hundred pixels . . . it left a void. Zoe and Vincent make me tell them stories- over and over I tell them stories. There's something basic in our desire to hear and tell them, something FaceBook (and god help us, Twitter) kind of cheat from us.

So, I'm back to posting for now, because I like stories. It's that simple.

November 06, 2008

Somewhere, probably in daycare, Vincent has learned about superheroes. He likes Batman, Superman, and Spiderman. Sounds about right. I wanted to get him his first comic book, so we had a guy-to-guy talk about this very important decision

Me: So who do you want?Vincent: I like Batman. Or maybe Spiderman.

For you girls out there, this is the equivalent of which Princess are you gonna be: sassy Ariel or sensible Pocahontas (definitely not that slut Snow White). DC or Marvel? This could change everything for the rest of his life. Luckily, I've got another year or so to make this choice for him. Mama Karin has asked that the kid not be exposed to comics just yet. Too much violence and too many scary situations.

I'll probably go with DC. I think the iconic archetypes are best first exposure. He can have angst ridden anti-heroes from Marvel when he's a teenager.

Of course, once we go with DC, the choice between Batman and Superman is easy. Superman's a freakin' alien. The one downside of McCain's loss: now we'll never get that wall built to keep out super powered babies from other planets who want to come here and take jobs away from our domestic super heroes.Go in Peace

November 04, 2008

Mr. and Mrs. Bridget got golden tickets and were in the inner 60,000 at Grant Park for Obama's acceptance speech. I got a hold of her and we had this brief exchange

Me: Fox News just called Virginia for Obama, that's itMrs Bridget: Yeah, just saw that on the big TV.Me: You understand, with Obama's victory, America can no longer be called a racist nation. From this point forward, white people everywhere can now casually use the word nigger.Mrs. Bridget: God, you're an asshole. I love you. Me: Enjoy the show.

October 28, 2008

It's a time honored tradition going into the final 10 days of the election: the leader in the polls preaches persistence and vigilance while the underdog makes a we're gonna pull this out and win declaration. And, it was really good plan to do this on Meet The Press with Tom Brokaw. However, it might not have been symbolically good for Senator McCain to make this announcement of future victory in an Iowa town named WATERLOO.

October 24, 2008

This week WXYZ-TV in Detroit celebrated its 60th anniversary by having Bill Bonds and John Kelley anchor the 7pm newscast. Marylin Turner did the weather and only Al Ackerman was missing from the classic Action News line-up. If you want, watch the whole broadcast. It's sentimental and amusing at the same time. They have a lovely disregard for embarrassment. Watch for Bill's burp.

At the end of the broadcast, Bill does a commentary. It rocks. I've avoided posting because this is such an emotionally charged election and I hate the whole flame war thing. This is our government, not a reality show. So, leave it to the old man to sum it all up.
Go in Peace